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Very Good

#465 of 1,992 schools in MN

Top 23% in state

Dowling Elementary

Elementary School · Minneapolis Public School District

3900 W RIVER PKWY, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Enrollment

315

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Minnesota schools

#465 of 1,992

In Minneapolis

#27 of 125

public schools

In district

#21 of 78

Minneapolis Public School District

School environment

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Dowling Elementary

7.3/10

Elementary School in Minneapolis · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Minnehaha Academy Lower School

8.1/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Howe Elementary

8.9/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Dowling Elementary

Dowling Elementary is a public elementary school in Minneapolis, MN, part of Minneapolis Public School District. Dowling Elementary serves approximately 315 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. Dowling Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #465 of 1,992 schools in MN.

Structured state assessment records for Dowling Elementary show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.7
  • MN avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.56 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency52% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency67% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency60% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+11.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile80th
Resources & Environment9.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,839
Chronic Absenteeism20%

Dowling Elementary — Students at Dowling Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

37.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 62.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 65.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
71%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
68%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
70%
ELA
84%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
65%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
65%
2014
Math
63%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
64%
2016
Math
66%
ELA
60%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
63%
2018
Math
60%
ELA
61%
2019
Math
60%
ELA
61%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
67%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.7/10.

How Dowling Elementary Compares

See how Dowling Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
77th percentile in MN
Academic
8.7/10
Excellent
Growth
5.7/10
Average
Environment
9.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
38%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

3900 W RIVER PKWY, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Dowling Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. NORTHROP ELEMENTARY (rated 9.2/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Howe Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, HORACE MANN SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Saint Paul), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Minneapolis, see our Minneapolis schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
MINNEHAHA ACADEMY LOWER SCHOOL Minneapolis 0.4 mi 8.1
Howe Elementary Minneapolis 0.4 mi 8.9
HIAWATHA ELEMENTARY Minneapolis 0.6 mi 5.2
SANFORD MIDDLE Minneapolis 0.6 mi 7.2
SUNNY HOLLOW MONTESSORI Saint Paul 0.8 mi 7.1
MINNEHAHA ACADEMY - UPPER SCHOOL Minneapolis 0.9 mi 7.6
GROVELAND PARK ELEMENTARY Saint Paul 0.9 mi 7.0
Friendship Academy of Arts - Interm Minneapolis 1.0 mi 2.3
HORACE MANN SCHOOL Saint Paul 1.2 mi 8.4
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD SCHOOL Saint Paul 1.1 mi 4.8
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Saint Paul 1.2 mi
NORTHROP ELEMENTARY Minneapolis 1.2 mi 9.2
HIGHLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOL Saint Paul 1.4 mi 7.3
Hiawatha College Prep - Kingfield Minneapolis 1.6 mi 3.4
Hiawatha Collegiate High School Minneapolis 1.6 mi 4.9
JEAN LYLE'S CHILDRENS CENTER Saint Paul 1.5 mi
FOUR SEASONS ELEMENTARY Saint Paul 1.6 mi 2.9
Early Education Four Seasons Saint Paul 1.6 mi
Bdote Learning Center Minneapolis 1.6 mi 6.8
Roosevelt High Minneapolis 1.4 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 55406 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$91,865

Median Home Value

$335,500

Median Rent

$1,276/mo

Population

35,863

College Educated

56%

Homeownership

66.8%

Avg Commute

22.5 min

Poverty Rate

8.2%

Median Age

39.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Faribault, MN 7.3
HIGHLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOL Saint Paul, MN 7.3
ISLE ELEMENTARY Isle, MN 7.3
LAKEAIRES ELEMENTARY White Bear Lake, MN 7.3
MMSA Elementary School Saint Paul, MN 7.3
NRHEG ELEMENTARY Ellendale, MN 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Dowling Elementary

What grades does Dowling Elementary serve?

Dowling Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Dowling Elementary?

Dowling Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 315 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Dowling Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Dowling Elementary is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Dowling Elementary rank in MN?

Dowling Elementary ranks #465 of 1,992 schools in MN.

What is Dowling Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Dowling Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Dowling Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Dowling Elementary has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Dowling Elementary a charter school?

No, Dowling Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Dowling Elementary a Title I school?

No, Dowling Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dowling Elementary?

37.8% of students at Dowling Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
42 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
39 Some Transit
Bike Score
86 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
315
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Free/Reduced Lunch
37.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Hennepin County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.0%

District

Minneapolis Public School District
District Enrollment
29,063
Schools in District
98
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,839
District Rank
#21 of 78

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